Bridle-bit.



m. 637,!70. v v Pato ntad Nov. 14, I899. a. E. SMITH.

BRIDLE BIT.

lication 1611 m. 29, 1896.

(No Model.)

' am Geozgelz lnitii gg/l 1 clmm q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. SMITH, OF BUFORD, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL R. PAYNE, OF RIDDLETON, TENNESSEE.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,170, dated November 14, 1899.

Application filed March 29, 189 9. Serial No. 710,987. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buford, in the county of Gwinnett and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Bits; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bridle-bits of that type having-a mouth-bar composed of a fixed section uniting the side pieces of the bit-frame and a movable section adjustable to different positions to hold the mouth of the animal open for drenching and other purposes. As showing a bit of this character, reference is made to the patent granted John D. Warfel, No. 576,502, dated February 2, 1897, to detailed improvements on which this invention especially relates. This patent embodies a bit composed of side pieces having openings for the attachment of check and other straps and segmental slots, the lower ends of said slots being enlarged and curved, combined with a mouth-bar comprising semicylindrical sections forming, when connected, a cylindrical bar, one ofthe said sections being rigidly secured to the side pieces and the other movable and provided with elliptical shanks adapted to slide in said slots and permit of the movable section being adjusted to different positions to hold the animals mouth open and having screw-threaded ends for the reception of jam-nuts. When the movable section is adjusted to its fullest extent to hold the mouth of the animal wide open for drenching, it is caused by the conformation of the slots to turn almost, if not entirely, over and present its convex side downward, and the said enlargements at the lower ends of the slots are provided to enable the movable section to be turned to present its convex side outward and reversed for drenching and to prevent clenching. It has been found in practice that this construction is objectionable and impairs the otherwise valuable qualities of the device, first, because the edges of the mouth-barsections severely cut and lacerate the mouth of the animal; second, on account of the comparative high cost of manufacture due to the construction of the mouthbar employed; third, because of the tendency of the adjustable section to turn in the enlarged lower ends of the slots, thus rendering it difficult to properly perform the operation of drenching.

The object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a bit which is simple in construction, comparatively cheap to manufacture, which has no angular surfaces or edges to injure the mouth of the animal, and in which turning of the mouthpiece is positivelyprevented.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a rear perspective View of the bit as used for an or dinary curb-bit and showing in dotted lines the movable mouthpiece -section adjusted for holding the animals mouth open. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section thereof, showing in full lines the movable mouth-bar section adjusted for holding the animals mouth open and in dotted lines the normal position of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the fixed section of the mouthbar. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the movable section of the mouth-bar, with its securingnuts.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, A represents the two side pieces of the bit, having segment-shaped lower portions A. The upper ends of these side pieces are provided with openings at for the reception of check or other straps for connecting the bit to the headstall of a bridle or halter. In the lower ends of the said lower curved portions of the side pieces are similar openings to, in which the ends of riding or driving reins may be secured, and located at the extreme rear, at or about the center thereof, are other openings 0. for the attachment of reins when the bit is used for riding or driving or for the attachment of the checkstraps of a bridle or halter when employed for holding the mouth of the animal open.

Segment-shaped slots a are formed in the lower curved portions of the side pieces, and in accordance with my invention these slots open at their upper ends into rectangular thereof.

amt

openings a and each slot is of the same width throughout its entire length, the walls thereof extending parallel with each other and a straight nearly vertical shoulder a being thereby formed at the lower end thereof.

The mouth-bar is composed of a fixed sec tion B and an adjustable section B, which are curved upward slightly at the center The fixed section consists of a pair of cylindrical steel rods B and B arranged one above the other and having equal end pieces or lugs d, which are rigidly secured in the said rectangular openings (i These rods lie snugly in contact, and the adjustable mouth-bar section, which is composed of a single cylindrical rod, normally lies intermediately against the rear surfaces thereof, so that the three rods are nested closely together and form a mouth-bar which is extremely simple in construction,cheap to manufacture, and has no angular surfaces or edges to cut and lacerate the month of the animal either when the sections are connected to form a curb-bit, as shown in Fig. 1, or when the movable section is adjusted as shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore, no grooving, turning out, or other diificult or skilled machine-work is required and a mouth-bar is provided which is much superior in point of strength to a bar made of two semicylindrical sections. The adjustable section B is provided at each end with a rectangular shank or boss I), terminating in a reduced screw-threaded end I) for the reception of a jam-nut c. The shanks are fitted to slide in the slots (1 in the curved lower portions A of the side pieces, and their straight faces bear against the side walls of the slots and prevent the section from turning. When the adjustable section is moved down to the lower ends of the slots, the straight faces of the shanks bear against the side walls of the slots and end walls a thereof, and thereby positively hold said section against axial movement, whereby the mouth of the animal will be positively held open, so that the drenching operation can be easily and conveniently performed.

When it is desired to use the bit for riding or driving,the adjustable section of the mouthbar is adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the jam-nuts tightened to hold it in contact with the fixed section.

In employing the bit as a mouth-opener for veterinary purposes, such as bleeding or treat ing the teeth or throat or for drenching, the adjustable mouthpiece-section is moved down to the lower ends of the segmental slots and secured by the jam-nuts. When so adjusted the conformation of the slots will cause the adjustable section to turn almost, if not entirely, over, so that the convex side of the curved central portion thereof will project downward. The mouth of the animal will thereby be held open, and the hand of the operator, an instrument, or a bottle may then be readily and conveniently inserted therein.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood, and it will be seen that a bit is provided which is simple and inexpensive in construction and can be employed for the purpose stated without inconvenience or injury to the animal. The invention is restricted to the essential features herein shown and described, whereby these desirable advantages are attained.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-- A bridle-bit comprising in its construction a pairof side pieces having curved side pieces formed with segmental slots therein which are of the same width throughout their entire lengths and open at their upper ends into rectangular sockets or openings, and a mouth bar composed of a fixed section consisting of a pair of cylindrical rods or bars arranged in contact one above the other and provided with rectangular lugs or bosses at the ends thereof secured in said sockets or openings, and a movable section consisting of a cylindrical rod normally arranged to lie intermediately against the rear sides of the bars of the fixed section so that the three rods will nest closely together, said movable section being provided with square shanks sliding in said slots and terminating in reduced screwthreaded ends, and jam-nuts fitted on said threaded ends, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. SMITH.

' Witnesses:

B. L. WYATT, J. A. FRETWELL. 

